Measurement and Graphing in Kindergarten: A Guide to Teaching Young Learners

This 4-week Measurement & Graphing Unit is designed to help Kindergarten students build a strong foundation in essential measurement concepts and early data analysis skills. Through hands-on exploration and meaningful practice, students learn how to measure, compare, collect data, and interpret information in ways that connect directly to their everyday experiences.

Throughout the unit, students explore measurement concepts such as length, height, and weight using nonstandard units including cubes, links, and counters. By measuring familiar classroom objects and making direct comparisons, students begin to understand that measurement is about comparing attributes in consistent ways. 

Students also use balance scales to compare weights, giving them hands-on experience with the concepts of heavier and lighter. By placing objects on each side of the scale and observing how it moves, students learn that weight can be compared even when objects look different in size. These activities encourage careful observation, prediction, and discussion, helping students develop early reasoning skills as they explain why one object weighs more or less than another.

In addition to measurement, the unit introduces students to graphing and data skills beginning with sorting where students learn how to classify and categorize! 

Kindergarteners also learn to collect class data and organize it using bar graphs and pictographs. Next, students understand how to read graphs by identifying which categories have the most, least, or equal amounts and by answering simple questions based on the data. These activities help students see how graphs can represent information clearly and meaningfully.

The unit is supported by engaging hands-on activities, interactive math centers, and partner games that encourage discussion and collaboration. Visual anchor charts reinforce key vocabulary and provide ongoing reference points that help students explain their thinking and make sense of new concepts.

By the end of this unit, students develop confidence in measuring objects, creating and interpreting graphs, and using math language to describe their observations. These foundational skills prepare students for future learning in problem-solving, data analysis, and real-world math applications throughout the school year.

This unit also includes built-in assessment and family communication tools to support student growth and home–school connections. A pre-assessment is used at the beginning of the unit to identify students’ prior knowledge and guide instruction, while a post-assessment at the end of the unit measures student progress and understanding of key measurement and graphing concepts. In addition, parent letters are included to clearly communicate what students will be learning throughout the unit, the skills they will practice, and the vocabulary they will use. These resources help keep families informed and allow them to support learning at home while providing teachers with meaningful data to guide instruction.

Better yet--this Measuring & Graphing Unit is just one piece of a my Growing Mathematicians Kindergarten Math Curriculum designed encompass all your students need to know for the whole year through hands-on, engaging learning. Each unit is thoughtfully created to connect with the next, helping students develop confidence and understanding as the year progresses. As new units are added, they will continue to build toward a complete, cohesive math curriculum—making planning easier for teachers and learning more meaningful for students. If you’re looking for developmentally appropriate, ready-to-use math units that grow alongside your learners, you've come to the right place!